An Iranian diplomat told The Wall Street Journal that mounting US economic pressure and a blockade of Iran's ports have widened a rift within the regime between pragmatists and hardliners, with the latter pushing for an aggressive seizure of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against Washington.
An Iranian diplomat has provided The Wall Street Journal with a more detailed account of the internal divisions within the regime, as The Zioneer reported earlier today. According to the diplomat, the mounting US economic pressure and the blockade of Iran's ports have widened the rift between two camps: pragmatists who fear the economic crisis will worsen, and hardliners who advocate for an aggressive takeover of the Strait of Hormuz as a leverage tool against Washington.
The disclosure adds granularity to the picture of Iranian infighting that has emerged in recent weeks. As The Zioneer reported on June 14, the ultra-conservative camp in Iran has been splitting over the Hormuz issue, with an analyst describing a rift between two extreme factions. More recently, on June 28, IRGC sources were reported to be fuming over what they called US 'deception' on a Hormuz deal, weighing re-escalation. The diplomat's account suggests that the pressure is intensifying the internal debate.
The extent to which the hardliner camp can prevail remains unclear, as does the possibility of a military escalation in the strategic waterway. The diplomat's identity was not disclosed.
2 developments
- DevelopingIranian Telegram source says Tehran is leveraging Hormuz pressure on Trump
- DevelopingWashington Post: Trump forced to back down on Iran, settle for Hormuz reopening
- StrongHardline Iranian editor slams US talks, warns against reopening Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingIranian ultra-conservative bloc splits over Hormuz — analyst assesses rift deepens
Source and signal
- Internal intake